Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

Is it possible to have an urgent debate on the fisheries industry which is in crisis? Only this morning we learned of the laying off of 60 workers at and the effective closure of a processing plant in Burtonport, County Donegal, largely due to the existence of prohibitive fish quotas and the fact that many Irish registered boats choose to land catches in other countries such as Scotland and Norway.

It is important to debate this matter to explore the action which might be taken to rejuvenate an industry which was thriving many years ago but which, unfortunately, has died away to the detriment of many coastal communities. There is a responsibility on all of us to take appropriate action to achieve this rejuvenation. The debate would also give the House an opportunity to explore with the Minister the aquaculture industry which heretofore has not realised its potential in terms of the employment that could be created and the revenue gained by coastal communities.